Quarterback Situation Brings Back Memories

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I'm sure a lot of fans were worried when Vince Young left the game against Tampa Bay with a leg injury.  It turns out that the injury isn't too serious and an added bonus is Kerry Collins came in the game and performed pretty well.  The Titans are fortunate to have a backup like Kerry who has a lot of experience in the league.  There aren't too many situations he hasn't been in. 

The quarterback situation the Titans are currently going through reminds me a lot of a similar situation I was involved in with Steve McNair getting hurt and Neil O'Donnell coming in during the 1999 season.  Obviously, Steve was a lot like Vince.  He got outside the pocket and gave the receivers a chance to work downfield and create some opportunities.  Neil was similar to Kerry in that he was going to sit in the pocket, but also would get the ball out of his hand quickly.  Neil would go through his reads and let you make a play.

When a new quarterback comes in the game the play-calling tends to change a little bit.  The offensive coordinator calls plays based on the strengths of the quarterback that is in the game and it is up to the receivers and the rest of the offense to execute their assignments.  As an offense, you are still going to have your base plays and your staple plays.  That is always going to be the same and is about 40 percent of your playbook.  The rest of the plays are designed to cater to the strength of the quarterback in the game.  As a receiver, you just have to go out and do your job and not necessarily worry about which quarterback is in the game.  It is your job to make a play.

Practice time and getting on the same page with a new quarterback is important, but sometimes I think the concept is a little overrated.  In my opinion, you are professional athletes.  A curl route is a curl route.  A comeback route is a comeback route.  A post route is a post route.  When it comes to body language there are a few things that you have to get familiar with and get used to seeing with a new quarterback, but for the most part when you are running routes in a game the quarterback doesn't have a lot of time.  He has people in his face and he is getting chased by 300-pound linemen.  There is a lot of trust involved and you have to run your route properly and the quarterback has to deliver it where you are going to be.  Sometimes you can't simulate that in practice.  Football is football and you are just trying to make a play.

I will check back in with a new blog entry in a few weeks.  Go Titans!